Patient experience of bowel surveillance
Research type
Research Study
Full title
INSPiRE: Qualitative Interview Study to Explore Patient Experiences of Undergoing Post-Polypectomy Surveillance Colonoscopy
IRAS ID
355150
Contact name
Juliet Usher-Smith
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
A097475, R&D number
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 31 days
Research summary
Bowel cancer affects around 44,000 people each year in the UK. It is treatable and even curable, especially when detected early. Most bowel cancers develop from polyps - small growths inside the bowel - that can be removed during a colonoscopy, which is a procedure using a flexible camera tube to examine the bowel.
People with multiple or large polyps have a higher risk of developing bowel cancer and are advised to have follow-up colonoscopies as part of a monitoring process called bowel cancer surveillance. These follow-ups usually happen after three years but may be longer due to growing NHS waiting lists. During this waiting period, many patients have little contact with medical professionals. Best practice guidelines recommend that healthcare staff explain the benefits and risks of surveillance in simple terms, provide lifestyle advice to reduce cancer risk, and offer contact details for patients who have questions.
However, little is known about whether these guidelines are followed or how patients feel while waiting for their surveillance colonoscopy. This study aims to explore patients’ experiences, expectations, and concerns. We want to understand whether patients receive enough information about their personal cancer risk and prevention strategies, and how they feel about using recently developed personalised approaches to guide follow-up care.
To do this, we will invite around 30 patients from Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Borders General Hospital (NHS Borders) who are waiting for a follow-up colonoscopy to take part in one-to-one online interviews to gather insights into their experiences. By analysing these discussions, we will identify ways to improve the surveillance process and ensure that patient needs are met. In the long term, our findings should inform the development of surveillance protocols that enhance both patient care and well-being.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/EE/0279
Date of REC Opinion
21 Jan 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion